How To Set your Bicycle Saddle Height
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มิ.ย. 2024
- bike fit tuesday actually on a tuesday
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#cycling #bikes #bicycle #bikefit
I can tell that he really knows what he is talking about, but having just finished the video, I still have no idea how high to put my seat.
Lower!
bro... i was thinking the same thing watching this.
Keeping it vague.. you know why.
I did the 109% method then I reduced 30mm like he recommends. Perfection...
Make it 20mm lower
Had a bike fit with James and he lowered my saddle by 15mm. He told me I’d probably stop on the way home to put it back up as it would feel weird. Felt all kinds of weird for a few days but once I’d adjusted my feet to the correct position (no longer heel up to compensate) managed to scoop up some elusive Strava KOMs with ease. Honestly changed my performance in a way I still find hard to believe. Game changer.
When you have to lower a saddle at 8 but direct an adult movie at 9
LOL
Tom Austin 😂😂😂😂
It is really refreshing to hear someone talk about something that they clearly know a great deal about, and are passionate about.
Bike fit Tuesdays with Freddie Mercury™
Great vid
I want to ride my BICYCLE BICYCLE.
😂
Slap a blonde wig on Jimmi, Francis can be the world's shortest Brian May impersonator, find someone to imitate John Deacon and Boom! Queen tribute act
@@gethinap if you can play uke you can play bass.
@@Cade_Media Funny you mentioned that. It's time to revisit my teenage years 😋
I did lower my saddle by 20mm at the start of this season. It also brought my saddle about 10mm forward. It made all the difference in the world. No more numbness in my feet, less disconfort of the soft tissues, I didn't had much rocking in my hips but now it is non existent, feel like my pedal strokes are more efficient, don't feel any pain in my upper back and my shoulders thanks me!
There is a lot of bike fitters on TH-cam but after listening to James, is thinking and ways to approach problems are just about logic and it works!
@leahcim38 Would you like to share your bad bike fitter experience with the rest of the group?
This series has really been a life-saver for me !
I just bought a track bike with agressive geometry and it felt a bit small compared to the casual/relaxed everyday fixed-gear I was riding.
Understanding bike fit better helps to find one's groove on a new bike so much
I found my current saddle height by filming myself from behind while on the rollers. I stopped lowering the saddle height when my pelvis wasn't rocking anymore. Kind of worked for me.
Thanks for this tip!
Great idea. Film yourself side and rear views on a trainer to see what you body is doing visually, also listen to your what you body tells you, then when you think you have it try out on the road.
Dont forget...you movent of your saddle back and forth need adjustment up or down
THANK YOU!! I had just bought a bike that according to my research was my correct size. After a week I noticed I was having knee pain so I analyzed my posture and found a bad knee - pedal relationship. I moved my setback all the way back and fixed that but now I was having neck issues because of the long reach...
After watching this video and the one on setback, I returned the setback to center and reduced 30mm on my seat height...
FIXED!!! My knee aligns perfectly with my pedal axis and my reach is more confortable. THANK YOU!!!
Cade finally got 90+k subscribers he deserves every lil bit of it. And this series is your best series. I love JAMES!
Love the enthusiasm that James brings to the table!! Also.. Freddie Mercury called, he wants his moustache back.. ;)
Another quality video!! I really enjoy listening to James share his knowledge. A BFT on a Tuesday morning while eating breakfast. It doesn't get much better 😂
I agree with James - spot on. For years my Saddle was too high but I didn't realise. This meant I ended up toe pointing (particularly with the right foot). I had foot issues with this foot and odd other issues (sores and aches, shoulders, hands etc)
A couple of years ago (after a lot of up and down by mm) I lowered my saddle by 40mm. I choose this height as I could pedal at about 110rpm with my heels on the pedals and no bouncing.This was too low - but not by huge amounts. I moved my cleats back and concentrated on feeling the soles of both feet against the shoes throughout the pedal stroke. I tried to feel as if my foot stayed more or less horizontal throughout the pedal stoke. When tired I tended to revert to the old right foot toe pointy style but over time this reduced.
I gradually improved - no more issues. After a year or so I raised the saddle height by 10mm. I get more power, no issues, regularly ride for 4 - 5 hours (about 250 miles a week on average). I always like to feel the soles of my feet in contact with the inside of my shoes. when tired this feeling can go as the foot becomes (what seems to me) unstable.
The lower saddle also means I'm comfortable in the drops for hours. I'd certainly recommend the high cadence heel pedalling to find a start height for the saddle.
I'm don't know if this stacks up with James' view of saddle height.
Nick
Love bike fit Tuesdays! Simply awesome info. I fully concur the saddle height issue with many bike fitters. I spent years dealing with knee pain and saddle sores then a friend of mine, who has been in the sport a long time, told me to drop my saddle... Since then I've been golden.
Great to see this segment back! Always informative and fun.
This video helped me out SO much. 30+ miles and I was getting saddle sores. I dropped the height just 20mil, rode 67 miles last weekend and NO sores!
Very informative. Thank you for this. Saddle positioning has been one of my greatest complaints, and it's great to hear someone explain the affects that certain changes will have on your positioning and power transfer.
No worries, thanks for watching
Thanks so much! I was experiencing seat pain after long rides however the pain subsided after I dropped my saddle height. I'm a 60 year old who returned to cycling after a 25 year hiatus (and having both hips replaced). This channel has corrected a lot of the bad information lingering from the 1980s and 1990s. Aloha from Honolulu!
After watching this video I dropped my saddle 1.5 cm. WOW! Definitely a step in the right direction. The outside of my feet feel great and overall more comfortable riding experience. Thank you!
I wish I could fly there for a fit from James. I've applied a lot of his fit advice and my rides have been way more comfortable. It's his understanding of the human anatomy that makes his advice so accurate. He's the best.
wow its actually Tuesday
ParkerJimmy must’ve been an accident
total accident
Every time I see a video like this one I want to head down and get a fit with James.. but I've already spent so much on other fits which have me in what I would consider a good position but I know it could be better as I have occasional saddle sores in the exact same place each time.
This was a fantastic video I reduced the seat height on my bike that’s on the turbo trainer by a cm and by 1/2 a cm on my gravel bike what a difference.Thanks Bike fit Tues 👍
Stumbled upon your videos as I'm doing a research to get my first proper bike!
Love your videos; great content with cool vibes!
Thanks!
Great vid, very informative! Many kudos for these series with James, Francis!
I could imagine myself flying to London to get proper bike fit, but Berlin is the closest IBFI certified fitter.
I first heard of cleat position importance by watching Francis' videos and listening to James. I was convinced to at least try it, and so I did. I slammed my cleats far rearward on my Shimano RX8 gravel shoes... and I'll never go back to a forward cleat position. I feel like I'm doing leg presses in a squat machine... meaning, I feel like my power delivery is smoothed and optimized. And of course no sore feet or knees.
Great advice...and I'm happy to see that Magnum PI is doing bike fits now :-)
Loving the moustache addition to bike fit Tuesdays! Honestly, the holistic approach that James takes to bike fitting and physiology is amazing. Thanks for the knowledge guys!
Oh my god it’s Richard from Friends! (Maybe a bit obscure, but I’m not telling him he looks like Magnum...)
I was going to write "Tom Selleck", but you beat me. Next time...
Friends? Is that some 1980s show 😛
Richard from Friends haha. Tom will always be Magnum PI to me. 🧐
Great video Francis, I’ve used a few of James suggestions he has given in the past to help with my issues and they seem to be helping. Gotta get me a pair of G8 footbeds.
I prefer the old bike fit Tuesday intro.
Really interesting! And so easy to trial. Thanks Francis and James...
When all the bike fit videos are viewed as a whole they're seriously educational. Obviously seeing the man himself would be the best option but these at least give me an idea of how everything links together... wish I lived nearer to London!!!
😁👍
Freddie Mercury Fit Tuesdays! I want to ride my bicycleeee!
Great advice thank you. Sadly thought my left knee pain was something I had to live with ...saddle now lowered ...a bit more power as I can push more for longer and no knee pain
Long time subscriber, so I kinda already know what James was gonna say. I still clicked just cuz I like hearing him talk. It’s as if he knows what he’s talking about
Just wanted to say how good this video is, I have watched a lot of bike fitting videos over the years, and no one has just gone and said "If you have problems drop your saddle 30mm", because I had problems on a bike I had done thousands of miles on with some new shoe, and just went and dropped my saddle 15mm, then raised it up around 3-5mm more and it is great.
How has no one just made a video going if you have saddle sores lower your saddle a bit! Astounding...also the whole bit about how the position that you sit on the saddle fore or aft will effect your saddle height in comparison to the peddle, i.e. you will adapt for bad fit, is also never mention in saddle height content.
If I am like most people, as was suggested in the video, I was faffing about pretend 2mm matters, when the reality is clearly what you suggest, that 5mm here, 5mm there, is all going to be fine.
YESSSS...to Jame's new haircut. He like a skinny Tom Selleck. It's absolutely brilliant! Don't get rid of it. 🤙🏾
I'm a fifty something rider & doing up to 100 mile rides. James advise on saddle height and cleat position have enabled me to be capable of century rides. As an older person doing longish rides I need things closer to optimum, that said def want a bike fit in the future PRIOR to a new bike! Eh thank you for the content as always excellent 😊
This is an incredibly helpful series
I find your videos extremely informative and all of what you say brings it down to a common sense level, Thanks and keep up the good work with the videos.( Just going to lower my saddle height a little:)
Probably the best video I have watched on saddle height. Having had a bike fit from James I have often agonized over replicating his measurements if I have swapped out a component. Where did James measure the saddle height from?, where on the saddle were the measurements taken from? etc etc. It is reassuring to know that millimetre perfection is not crucial. Cheers guys.
Probably this could be the best video tutorial ever made about how to find correct saddle height. The guy put huge efforts and tried his best to make it as simple as possible. Hope you understand. Good luck every one getting your saddle height correct after watching this video 😂😂😂😂😂
James is fascinating. My fit was a complete game changer. Saddle went up 60mm
Greetings from Florida, I recently found your channel, as a newbie I really appreciate your videos!
Hi Francis,
As many people here I’m new to the channel and cycling in general, as I got my first road bike during lockdown.
Thanks for the great content, I’m learning a lot trough your videos!
Have you ever thought of organising a group ride on the weekend with your new London followers?
Nice idea... But I feel like it would be chaos 😂
Brilliant to start off with the global view (what happens at the bottom and top of stroke) and mention problems of low saddle height (hip pain). In my case I went down a long way to reduce outside of left knee pain and saddle sores on the left, but ended up with hip pain on the right side which somehow then became awful upper quad (hip flexor?) pain which someow then became critical lower back pain. Reducing crank length to 170s and having a "heel scraping on pedal" saddle height solved it all. I think the devil (!) may actually be 175mm cranks!
I have also noted that a saddle that seems too high after one hour will be perfect (or feeling even too low!) after 2. This is rarely mentioned. Finally it is true in my experience that bike fitters put you right at the upper limit of what you can handle (on a good day!) Suffice to say that Hinault's 0.885 x inside leg position (roughly what is recommended by bike fitters) was 1cm higher than what he rode with before. So if you have a bike fit you might want to go down a 1cm and you should be about right. In any case you will feeel much better! Excellent video.
Literally the best no bullshit explanation of saddle height ever. Well done to the tash.
I have extremely long legs, and short body. (37inch inside leg) This is the first time I have heard to put the saddle forward, as have always felt stretched out.
Knee is well forward of pedal regardless as I think it’s upper leg where all the length is.
I’m going to put the saddle forward and give this a go.
Thanks for the informative videos!
Great video! Love bike fit Tuesday! The stash is amazing 😂
James looks like a creepy 70s gym class teacher with the new mo 😂😂😂
As a mountain biker, I often listen carefully to roadies. They approach seemingly mundane things with in-depth vision that often times MTB'rs don't and these things make HUGE differences in my riding including comfort, endurance, balance, efficiency, skills, etc. Mountain bikers should listen to these roadies more often.
~JSV
Moutain Biking is a totally different ball game mate....Road bike you can sometimes sit in the same position for hours...mountain biking that will never happen...you are moving around the whole time.Hope you understand what I mean
@@truth-Hurts375 Of course, I ride a dropper on my carbon Stumpjumper.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/20271214/
That STILL has to be set up, properly, for pedaling, climbing, trail riding, fireroads, when it's UP and I'm riding it, the last thing I want is to lose efficiency or create long term physical issues. There's a lot that gets done on a FS bike while the rider is seated. So I take some of the advice from these rodies. If MTBrs take SOME advice from these guys they'll learn something that can improve their experience--that's all I'm saying. It's even more important for my hardtails, and there's a lot of riders on hardtails not expecting to learn from these rodies.
~JSV
@@truth-Hurts375 telling him what his hobby is like, seems a bit weird. But maybe that's just me. Good day sir.
This is absolutely bang on. Excellent. Outside of left knee pain? Lower your saddle til it goes. Hip starts going numb due to leg (usually right leg) coming up too high? Raise saddle (or get sensible crank length) until pain goes.
Of course this isn't factoring in ITB issues that can occur where stretching, rolling and strengthening might be what is needed?
I had thumb pain and back knee pain, so I lowered my saddle 2cm yesterday, it felt a bit weird at first like I was sitting on a cramped mtb and I also thought that I was going slower... until I checked my strava of course, I set prs on most of my usual climbs, and both the knee and thumb pain were gone, so overall it was a good idea, I might set my bar a bit lower though for a more stretched position, I've gotten used to more stretch
Interesting, I’m getting pain behind my left knee, and front of right knee.. 😳 I need a fitting
What a great n knowledgeable analysis... thanks guys 👍🏽
I have watched these bike fit videos a few times and messing with my bike fit. Boy is it getting better. Also I took your advice and moved my cleats all the way back and center I have big feet. Huge difference. Luckily I have an adjustable stem and I think it's to long but for now I bought it all the way up. Way more comfortable. Do you guys have a video specifically on reach distance? Also what about saddle angle. Mine looks aggressive but is so much more comfortable. Admittedly I need to work on my flexibility that's on my list. Great stuff I love the details.
Yes this guy is right! My saddle was set at 79,3 cm from BB on Retul, but i have been loosing control when my leg was down. Now it is 78 cm is perfect! In my case the best option to measure saddle height was heel on pedal method.
The comment about why someone may move forward on their saddle has made me think my saddle is just a smidge too high as I find myself sliding forward. Great pointer, thanks 🙏
Great video, am going to try mine lower, I don’t have any specific issues but I know that I point my toes intermittently
I've been dealing with some knee pain which has gotten a little worse since moving to my indoor smart bike (Stages SB20 which is fantastic BTW). Took the advice in this video and dropped my seat a full cm. MUCH better. Might drop it another 5 mm today, just to see... Thanks for the insight!
And this is what James sorted with Sophie’s bike fit. If we’d gone a couple of years ago she wouldn’t now need extensive physio to cure right hand hamstring problems and last year she had a bad saddle sore on the left. Her original fit was, yes with a physio and she’s now at 71.5cm from bb to saddle height down from 74.5cm. Bike is dialled in, now we need to get Sophie dialled in so she can use those potential 50-100 watts extra power at next years Tour Series 👌👍
Was starting to worry about ol' BFJ. That moustache is obscene. I love it.
Loved this info! I ride approx 25-35 miles a night, 4-5 times per week.
1) I have left knee pain
2) I get right hand 🤚 fatigue
3) my left hip gets sore, and stiff, at times.
4) my right calf muscle gets strained near the end of my ride, during a hard sprint.
I am going to try lowering my saddle tomorrow!
good luck!
Great video. I’ve had 2 bike fits still struggling. When your spending big money on bikes it’s very frustrating when you get pains constantly.
I love the new format. Magnum PI doing bike fit Wednesdays.
Timely upload. Saddle gone down by 10mm recently. Cleats moved towards heel too. Taking a while to get used to it and feel like I am sliding forward on saddle now. Hmm. Not sure if linked and if fire and aft adjustment required. Thanks James and Francis for these quality public information films!
James with the flavor savor!!!!!!
Fitting tips with Clark Gable 😂
It's all making sense now. Had a second bike fit after my initial one 12months later and the fitter put up my saddle alot! 3-4 months later left medal knee pain ruined my training for 2 months. Also, may right outside toes go numb! Sounds like it could be excessive saddle height issues? I have been lowering it since... Keep up the good work!
Sounds like it!
Thanks so much for making this video! Been really getting into bikepacking because of you all. I've been having some pain on my right foot's midfoot region, specifically all the way to the right. Any thoughts on if my saddle is too high and/or I've the wrong shoe size? I'm normally a US 10.5/EU 44 but never went into a bike shop for a cycling shoe fit. Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Ace video - and again, it's solid information for free!
Loved "Human Beings are very good at absorbing disfunction". Extremely entertaining as usual James.
Love BFT, always great an informative.
I did cop 15mins of TH-cam ads to go with it.
P.s I now have 7 squarespace sites, am selling on Amazon and have reduced my debt..
😂
Speedy Bikefit Tuesday!
The whole Bike Fit Tuesdays series is a great lesson of bike fit. Thanks a lot guys! I keep all that in mind while rebuilding the front of my flatbar bike to a dropbar - in order to not go to extremes, but take full advantage from lowered position. First rides are promising!
Now that James and Lucy made their return que can’t wait for Djim to drop by on a future vlog.
Agreed. Start low, mark the starting point with elect tape, makes small height increases.
I can not handle this!!! Bike Fit Tuesday on a Tuesday. Francis, you’ve changed!!😂😂
Pretty much most of the riders I passed at the weekend had a moustache. We are in vogue right now. Also makes you faster!
I want to ride my bicycle (singing). Great job! Good info. Keep it up!
Fantastic informative review thanks bro
Really good video so helpful thanks
I have to make a video of every time this guy says "AHHHHHH"
That moustache rocks! Awesome vid as normal
Great vid guys thanks
Definitely some gold in this video.
Just couldn't get thought of Freddie Mercury out of my head every time James was in shot
I believe that this TH-cam video presenter is the first one I have ever heard who identified one's foot size as being a critical consideration for saddle height. I have a size 15 / EU 50 shoe, with short toes and a comfortably raised heel. All the precision-driven formulas for seat height will state within a millimeter what is the perfect height. I have to add inches just from my foot size.
OMFG clone James and ship a copy or three of him to Canada please! His expertise on bike fit and biomechanics has astounded me again. And makes me think my fit/setup has been wrong for 35 years now thanks to certain ex pros fit formulas.
I’m disappointed within bonus segment optimum moustache height wasn’t covered off. Possibly for another BFT?
I just lowered my saddle by about 2 cm after watching this video (can't go any lower than that) and it feels like I got quite a massive boost in power. It feels weird at first but I guess it's just matter of getting used to it.
Time will tell if those are real gains or just placebo.
My saddle was previously set slightly off axis because a straight saddle was uncomfortable, just like you described. Now I can set it straight.
My left quadriceps is also noticeably less muscled than the right one, and basically all the effort was produced by the quads. Two problems that you described and that will hopefully be solved by this.
Thanks a lot for this advice!
Two details: I'm on flat pedals, and my saddle height was first set by looking for a 30-40 degree angle at full leg extension.
The question now is: are there any other settings I need to adjust in conjunction with the saddle height ?
James and I have the same watch. Good man. :)
Oh man! When I was watching the last video with the sprint footage, I was watching Lawrence rock back and forth, and I said, "oh man, he needs James to tell him to lower his saddle!" But I guess James has already tried!
Hello Francis!!! Yes sir bike fit James.
How about the horizontal position of the saddle? And the effect on pressure on the arms/hands? 😁
Great informative video, thank you.
Only spolit by three advert breaks!!
I've never put mid roll adverts in before, thought I would experiment with this video because apparently it's then more likely to be recommended by TH-cam, because obviously they make more revenue... Didn't realise it would end up having 3?! Wtf!
You guys need to come to USA and spend a month doing bike fits!!
nice video again thanks
thank you!
Holy smokes this guy is brilliant. He just gets it, this is why obsession with scientific knowledge is foolish - I know a lot about the medicine/anatomy/physiology behind what he's talking about, but could never put it together the way he does. Dude, is seriously brilliant in way he puts things together. Listen to this man. Generally, he's on point. That's hard to do, when generalizing on TH-cam.
May be worthwhile getting a bike fit, then adjust based on what this dude says.
The Walrus (C.Hall copyright) like growth is an indicator of how long it’s been since the last BFT..... good one 👍
I got a new bike a few days ago, adjusted my saddle height to the new position (from handlebar to dropbar) what felt weird to me was that my position was much higher than before. I think in the past was to low because it felt easier to balance.
Super content as always! Following on from this, could anterior knee pain and pain just above the kneecap be caused by tight hamstrings? I.e. knee extension is limited by tight hamstrings.
Yes..along with poor ankle mobility, tight calves and tight hips. In fact the entire kinetic chain can cause anterior knee pain.
Loads of foam rolling the quads and stretching.
Work on all of the above and see if it goes away.
DO NOT ride through the pain barrier unless you want to have chronic issues.
Took me months off the bike and targeted stretching and strength work before I could return slowly to riding.
Don't be me.